第5章

Thehithertouselesseffortsoftheprosecutionwerenowmadepublic，alsotheprecautionstakenbythecriminaltoensurethesuccessofhiscrime。ItwasshownthatJean—FrancoisTascheronhadobtainedapassportforNorthAmericasomemonthsbeforethecrimewascommitted。

ThustheplanofleavingFrancewasfullyformed;theobjectofhispassionmustthereforebeamarriedwoman;forhewouldhavenoreasontofleethecountrywithayounggirl。Possiblythecrimehadthisoneobjectinview，namely，toobtainsufficientmeanstosupportthisunknownwomanincomfort。

TheprosecutionhadfoundnopassportissuedtoawomanforNorthAmerica。IncaseshehadobtainedoneinParis，theregistersofthatcityweresearched，alsothoseofthetownscontingenttoLimoges，butwithoutresult。Alltheshrewdestmindsinthecommunityfollowedthecasewithdeepattention。Whilethemorevirtuousdamesofthedepartmentattributedthewearingofpumpsonamuddyroad（aninexplicablecircumstanceintheordinarylivesofsuchshoes）tothenecessityofnoiselesslywatchingoldPingret，themenpointedoutthatpumpswereveryusefulinsilentlypassingthroughahouse——upstairwaysandalongcorridors——withoutdiscovery。

SoJean—FrancoisTascheronandhismistress（bythistimeshewasyoung，beautiful，romantic，foreveryonemadeaportraitofher）hadevidentlyintendedtoescapewithonlyonepassport，towhichtheywouldforgetheadditionalwords，"andwife。"Thecardtablesweredesertedatnightinthevarioussocialsalons，andmalicioustonguesdiscussedwhatwomenwereknowninMarch，1829，tohavegonetoParis，andwhatotherscouldbemaking，openlyorsecretly，preparationsforajourney。LimogesmightbesaidtobeenjoyingitsFualdestrial，withanunknownandmysteriousMadameMansonforanadditionalexcitement。NeverwasanyprovincialtownsostirredtoitsdepthsasLimogesaftereachday’ssession。Nothingwastalkedofbutthetrial，alltheincidentsofwhichincreasedtheinterestfeltfortheaccused，whoseableanswers，learnedlytakenup，turnedandtwistedandcommentedupon，gaverisetoamplediscussions。WhenoneofthejurorsaskedTascheronwhyhehadtakenapassportforAmerica，themanrepliedthathehadintendedtoestablishaporcelainmanufactoryinthatcountry。Thus，withoutcommittinghimselftoanylineofdefence，hecoveredhisaccomplice，leavingittobesupposedthatthecrimewascommitted，ifatall，toobtainfundsforthisbusinessventure。

InthemidstofsuchexcitementitwasimpossibleforVeronique’sfriendstorefrainfromdiscussinginherpresencetheprogressofthecaseandthereticenceofthecriminal。Herhealthwasextremelyfeeble;butthedoctorhavingadvisedhergoingoutintothefreshair，shehadononeoccasiontakenhermother’sarmandwalkedasfarasMadameSauviat’shouseinthecountry，wheresherested。Onherreturnsheendeavoredtokeepaboutuntilherhusbandcametohisdinner，whichshealwaysservedhimherself。OnthisoccasionGraslin，beingdetainedinthecourt—room，didnotcomeintilleighto’clock。

Shewentintothedining—roomasusual，andwaspresentatadiscussionwhichtookplaceamonganumberofherfriendswhohadassembledthere。

"Ifmypoorfatherwerestillliving，"sheremarkedtothem，"weshouldknowmoreaboutthematter;possiblythismanmightneverhavebecomeacriminal。Ithinkyouhavealltakenasingularideaaboutthematter。Youinsistthatloveisatthebottomofthecrime，andI

agreewithyouthere;butwhydoyouthinkthisunknownpersonisamarriedwoman？Hemayhavelovedsomeyounggirlwhosefatherandmotherwouldnotlethermarryhim。"

"Ayounggirlcould，soonerorlater，havemarriedhimlegitimately，"

repliedMonsieurdeGrandville。"Tascheronhasnolackofpatience;hehadtimetomakesufficientmeanstosupportherwhileawaitingthetimewhenallgirlsareatlibertytomarryagainstthewishesoftheirparents;heneednothavecommittedacrimetoobtainher。"

"Ididnotknowthatagirlcouldmarryinthatway，"saidMadameGraslin;"buthowisitthatinatownlikethis，whereallthingsareknown，andwhereeverybodyseeseverythingthathappenstohisneighbor，nottheslightestcluetothiswomanhasbeenobtained？Inordertolove，personsmustseeeachotherandconsequentlybeseen。

Whatdoyoureallythink，youmagistrates？"sheadded，plungingafixedlookintotheeyesofthe/procureur—general/。

"Wethinkthatthewomanbelongstothebourgeoisorthecommercialclass。"

"Idon’tagreewithyou，"saidMadameGraslin。"Awomanofthatclassdoesnothaveelevatedsentiments。"

ThisreplydrewalleyesonVeronique，andthewholecompanywaitedforanexplanationofsoparadoxicalaspeech。

"DuringthehoursIlieawakeatnightIhavenotbeenabletokeepmymindfromdwellingonthismysteriousaffair，"shesaidslowly，"andI

thinkIhavefathomedTascheron’smotive。Ibelievethepersonhelovesisayounggirl，becauseamarriedwomanhasinterests，ifnotfeelings，whichpartlyfillherheartandpreventherfromyieldingsocompletelytoagreatpassionastoleaveherhome。Thereissuchathingasaloveproceedingfrompassionwhichishalfmaternal，andtomeitisevidentthatthismanwaslovedbyawomanwhowishedtobehisprop，hisProvidence。Shemusthaveputintoherpassionsomethingofthegeniusthatinspirestheworkofartistsandpoets，thecreativeforcewhichexistsinwomanunderanotherform;foritishermissiontocreatemen，notthings。Ourworksareourchildren;ourchildrenarethepictures，books，andstatuesofourlives。Arewenotartistsintheirearliesteducation？Isaythatthisunknownwoman，ifsheisnotayounggirl，hasneverbeenamotherbutisfilledwiththematernalinstinct;shehaslovedthismantoformhim，todevelophim。Itneedsafeminineelementinyoumenoflawtodetecttheseshadesofmotive，whichtoooftenescapeyou。IfIhadbeenyourdeputy，"shesaid，lookingstraightatthe/procureur—general/，"I

shouldhavefoundtheguiltywoman，ifindeedthereisanyguiltaboutit。IagreewiththeAbbeDutheilthattheseloversmeanttoflytoAmericawiththemoneyofoldPingret。Thetheftledtothemurderbythefatallogicwhichthepunishmentofdeathinspires。Andso，"sheaddedwithanappealinglookatMonsieurdeGrandville，"Ithinkitwouldbemercifulinyoutoabandonthetheoryofpremeditation，forinsodoingyouwouldsavetheman’slife。Heisevidentlyafinemaninspiteofhiscrime;hemight，perhaps，repairthatcrimebyagreatrepentanceifyougavehimtime。Theworksofrepentanceoughttocountforsomethinginthejudgmentofthelaw。Inthesedaysistherenothingbetterforahumanbeingtodothantogivehislife，orbuild，asinformertimes，acathedralofMilan，toexpiatehiscrimes？"

"Yourideasarenoble，madame，"saidMonsieurdeGrandville，"but，premeditationapart，Tascheronwouldstillbeliabletothepenaltyofdeathonaccountoftheotherseriousandprovedcircumstancesattendingthecrime，——suchasforcibleentranceandburglaryatnight。"

"Thenyouthinkthathewillcertainlybefoundguilty？"shesaid，loweringhereyelids。

"Iamcertainofit，"hesaid;"theprosecutionhasastrongcase。"

AslighttremorrustledMadameGraslin’sdress。

"Ifeelcold，"shesaid。Takinghermother’sarmshewenttobed。

"Sheseemedquiteherselfthisevening，"saidherfriends。

ThenextdayVeroniquewasmuchworseandkeptherbed。Whenherphysicianexpressedsurpriseatherconditionshesaid，smiling:——

"Itoldyouthatthatwalkwoulddomenogood。"

EversincetheopeningofthetrialTascheron’sdemeanorhadbeenequallydevoidofhypocrisyorbravado。Veronique’sphysician，intendingtodiverthispatient’smind，triedtoexplainthisdemeanor，whichtheman’sdefendersweremakingthemostof。Theprisonerwasmisled，saidthedoctor，bythetalentsofhislawyer，andwassureofacquittal;attimeshisfaceexpressedahopethatwasgreaterthanthatofmerelyescapingdeath。Theantecedentsoftheman（whowasonlytwenty—threeyearsold）weresoatvariancewiththecrimenowchargedtohimthathislegaldefendersclaimedhispresentbearingtobeaproofofinnocence;besides，theoverwhelmingcircumstantialproofsofthetheoryoftheprosecutionweremadetoappearsoweakbyhisadvocatethatthemanwasbuoyedupbythelawyer’sarguments。Tosavehisclient’slifethelawyermadethemostoftheevidentwantofpremeditation;hypotheticallyheadmittedthepremeditationoftherobberybutnotofthemurders，whichwereevidently（nomatterwhowastheguiltyparty）theresultoftwounexpectedstruggles。Success，thedoctorsaid，wasreallyasdoubtfulforonesideasfortheother。

AfterthisvisitofherphysicianVeroniquereceivedthatofthe/procureur—general/，whowasinthehabitofcomingineverymorningonhiswaytothecourt—room。

"Ihavereadtheargumentsofyesterday，"shesaidtohim，"andto—day，asIsuppose，theevidenceforthedefencebegins。IamsointerestedinthatmanthatIshouldliketohavehimsaved。Couldn’tyouforonceinyourlifeforegoatriumph？Lethislawyerbeatyou。

Come，makemeapresentoftheman’slife，andperhapsyoushallhaveminesomeday。TheablepresentationofthedefencebyTascheron’slawyerreallyraisesastrongdoubt，and——"

"Why，youarequiteagitated，"saidtheviscountsomewhatsurprised。

"Doyouknowwhy？"sheanswered。"Myhusbandhasjustremarkedamosthorriblecoincidence，whichisreallyenoughinthepresentstateofmynerves，tocausemydeath。IfyoucondemnthismantodeathitwillbeontheverydaywhenIshallgivebirthtomychild。"

"ButIcan’tchangethelaws，"saidthelawyer。

"Ah！youdon’tknowhowtolove，"sheretorted，closinghereyes;thensheturnedherheadonthepillowandmadehimanimperativesigntoleavetheroom。

MonsieurGraslinpleadedstronglybutinvainwithhisfellow—jurymenforacquittal，givingareasonwhichsomeofthemadopted;areasonsuggestedbyhiswife:——

"Ifwedonotcondemnthismantodeath，butallowhimtolive，thedesVanneaulxwillintheendrecovertheirproperty。"

Thisweightyargumentmadeadivisionofthejury，intofiveforcondemnationagainstsevenforacquittal，whichnecessitatedanappealtothecourt;butthejudgesidedwiththeminority。Accordingtothelegalsystemofthatdaythisactionledtoaverdictofguilty。WhensentencewaspasseduponhimTascheronflewintoafurywhichwasnaturalenoughinamanfulloflifeandstrength，butwhichthecourtandjuryandlawyersandspectatorshadrarelywitnessedinpersonswhowerethoughttobeunjustlycondemned。

VI

DISCUSSIONSANDCHRISTIANSOLICITUDES

Inspiteoftheverdict，thedramaofthiscrimedidnotseemoversofarasthecommunitywasconcerned。Socomplicatedacasegaverise，asusuallyhappensundersuchcircumstances，totwosetsofdiametricallyoppositeopinionsastotheguiltofthehero，whomsomedeclaredtobeaninnocentandill—usedvictim，andotherstheworstofcriminals。

TheliberalsheldforTascheron’sinnocence，lessfromconvictionthanforthesatisfactionofopposingthegovernment。

"Whatanoutrage，"theysaid，"tocondemnamanbecausehisfootprintisthesizeofanotherman’sfootprint;orbecausehewillnottellyouwherehespentthenight，asifallyoungmenwouldnotratherdiethancompromiseawoman。Theyproveheborrowedtoolsandboughtiron，buthavetheyprovedhemadethatkey？Theyfindabitofbluelinenhangingtothebranchofatree，possiblyputtherebyoldPingrethimselftoscarethecrows，thoughithappenstomatchatearinTascheron’sblouse。Isaman’slifetodependonsuchthingsasthese？

Jean—Francoisdenieseverything，andtheprosecutionhasnotproducedasinglewitnesswhosawthecrimeoranythingrelatingtoit。"

Theytalkedover，enlargedupon，andparaphrasedtheargumentsofthedefence。"OldPingret！whatwashe？——acrackedmoneybox！"saidthestrong—minded。Afewofthemoredeterminedprogressists，denyingthesacredlawsofproperty，whichtheSaint—Simonianswerealreadyattackingundertheirabstracttheoriesofpoliticaleconomy，wentfurther。

"PerePingret，"theysaid，"wastherealauthorofthecrime。Byhoardinghisgoldthatmanrobbedthenation。Whatenterprisesmighthavebeenmadefruitfulbyhisuselessmoney！Hehadbarredthewayofindustry，andwasjustlypunished。"

Theypitiedthepoormurderedservant—woman，butDenise，Tascheron’ssister，whoresistedthewilesoflawyersanddidnotgiveasingleansweratthetrialwithoutlongconsiderationofwhatsheoughttosay，excitedthedeepestinterest。Shebecameintheirmindsafiguretobecompared（thoughinanothersense）withJeannieDeans，whosepiety，grace，modestyandbeautyshepossessed。

FrancoisTascheroncontinued，therefore，toexcitethecuriosityofnotonlyallthetownbutallthedepartment，andafewromanticwomenopenlytestifiedtheiradmirationforhim。

"Ifthereisreallyinallthisaloveforsomewomanhighabovehim，"

theysaid，"thenheissurelynoordinaryman，andyouwillseethathewilldiewell。"

Thequestion，"Willhespeakout，——willhenotspeak？"gaverisetomanyabet。

SincetheburstofragewithwhichTascheronreceivedhissentence，andwhichwassoviolentthatitmighthavebeenfataltopersonsabouthiminthecourt—roomifthegendarmeshadnotbeentheretomasterhim，thecondemnedmanthreatenedallwhocamenearhimwiththefuryofawildbeast;sothatthejailerswereobligedtoputhimintoastraight—jacket，asmuchtoprotecthislifeastheirownfromtheeffectsofhisanger。Preventedbythatcontrollingpowerfromdoingviolence，Tascherongaveventtohisdespairbyconvulsivejerkswhichhorrifiedhisguardians，andbywordsandlookswhichthemiddle—ageswouldhaveattributedtodemoniacalpossession。Hewassoyoungthatmanywomenthoughtpitifullyofalifesofullofpassionabouttobecutoffforever。"TheLastDayofaCondemnedMan，"thatmournfulelegy，thatuselesspleaagainstthepenaltyofdeath（themainstayofsociety！），whichhadlatelybeenpublished，asifexpresslytomeetthiscase，wasthetopicofallconversations。

But，aboveall，inthemindofeveryone，stoodthatinvisibleunknownwoman，herfeetinblood，raisedaloftbythetrialasitwereonapedestal，——torn，nodoubt，byhorribleinwardanguishandcondemnedtoabsolutesilencewithinherhome。WhowasthisMedeawhomthepublicwell—nighadmired，——thewomanwiththatimpenetrablebrow，thatwhitebreastcoveringaheartofsteel？Perhapsshewasthesisterorthecousinorthedaughterorthewifeofthisoneorofthatoneamongthem！Alarmseemedtocreepintothebosomoffamilies。AsNapoleonfinelysaid，itisespeciallyinthedomainoftheimaginationthatthepoweroftheUnknownisimmeasurable。

AsforthehundredthousandfrancsstolenfromMonsieurandMadamedesVanneaulxnoeffortsofthepolicecouldfindthem;andtheobstinatesilenceofthecriminalgavenoclue。MonsieurdeGrandvilletriedthecommonmeansofholdingouthopesofcommutationofthesentenceincaseofconfession;butwhenhewenttoseetheprisonerandsuggestitthelatterreceivedhimwithsuchfuriouscriesandepilepticcontortions，suchrageatbeingpowerlesstotakehimbythethroat，thathecoulddonothing。

ThelawcouldonlylooktotheinfluenceoftheChurchatthelastmoment。ThedesVanneaulxhadfrequentlyconsultedwiththeAbbePascal，chaplainoftheprison。Thispriestwasnotwithoutthefacultyofmakingprisonerslistentohim，andhereligiouslybravedTascheron’sviolence，tryingtogetinafewwordsamidthestormsofthatpowerfulnatureinconvulsion。Butthisstruggleofspiritualfatherhoodagainstthehurricaneofunchainedpassions，overcamethepoorabbecompletely。

"Themanhashadhisparadiseherebelow，"saidtheoldman，inhisgentlevoice。

LittleMadamedesVanneaulxconsultedherfriendsastowhethersheoughttotryavisitherselftothecriminal。MonsieurdesVanneaulxtalkedofofferingterms。InhisanxietytorecoverthemoneyheactuallywenttoMonsieurdeGrandvilleandaskedforthepardonofhisuncle’smurdererifthelatterwouldmakerestitutionofthehundredthousandfrancs。The/procureur—general/repliedthatthemajestyofthecrowndidnotstooptosuchcompromises。

ThedesVanneaulxthenhadrecoursetothelawyerwhohaddefendedTascheron，andtohimtheyofferedtenpercentofwhateversumhecouldrecover。ThislawyerwastheonlypersonbeforewhomTascheronwasnotviolent。Theheirsauthorizedhimtooffertheprisoneranadditionaltenpercenttobepaidtohisfamily。Inspiteofalltheseinducementsandhisowneloquence，thelawyercouldobtainnothingwhateverfromhisclient。ThedesVanneaulxwerefurious;theyanathematizedtheunhappyman。

"Heisnotonlyamurderer，buthehasnosenseofdecency，"criedMadamedesVanneaulx（ignorantofFualdes’famouscomplaint），whenshereceivedwordofthefailureoftheAbbePascal’sefforts，andwastoldtherewasnohopeofareversalofthesentencebythecourtofappeals。

"Whatgoodwillourmoneydohimintheplaceheisgoingto？"saidherhusband。"Murdercanbeconceivedof，butuselesstheftisinconceivable。Whatdayswelivein，tobesure！Tothinkthatpeopleingoodsocietyactuallytakeaninterestinsuchawretch！"

"Hehasnohonor，"saidMadamedesVanneaulx。

"Butperhapstherestitutionwouldcompromisethewomanheloves，"

saidanoldmaid。

"Wewouldkeephissecret，"returnedMonsieurdesVanneaulx。

"Thenyouwouldbecompoundingafelony，"remarkedalawyer。

"Oh，thevillain！"wasMonsieurdesVanneaulx’susualconclusion。

OneofMadameGraslin’sfemalefriendsrelatedtoherwithmuchamusementthesediscussionsofthedesVanneaulx。Thislady，whowasveryintelligent，andoneofthosepersonswhoformidealsanddesirethatallthingsshouldattainperfection，regrettedtheviolenceandsavagetemperofthecondemned;shewouldratherhehadbeencoldandcalmanddignified，shesaid。

"Doyounotsee，"repliedVeronique，"thatheisthusavoidingtheirtemptationsandfoilingtheirefforts？Heismakinghimselfawildbeastforapurpose。"

"Atanyrate，"saidthelady，"heisnotawell—bredman;heisonlyaworkman。"

"Ifhehadbeenawell—bredman，"saidMadameGraslin，"hewouldsoonhavesacrificedthatunknownwoman。"

Theseevents，discussedandturnedandtwistedineverysalon，everyhousehold，commentedoninascoreofways，strippedbarebythecleveresttonguesinthecommunity，gave，ofcourse，acruelinteresttotheexecutionofthecriminal，whoseappealwasrejectedaftertwomonths’delaybytheuppercourt。Whatwouldprobablybehisdemeanorinhislastmoments？Wouldhespeakout？Wouldhecontradicthimself？

Howwouldthebetsbedecided？Whowouldgotoseehimexecuted，andwhowouldnotgo，andhowcoulditbedone？Thepositionofthelocalities，whichinLimogessparesacriminaltheanguishofalongdistancetothescaffold，lessensthenumberofspectators。ThelawcourtswhichadjointheprisonstandatthecorneroftherueduPalaisandtherueduPont—Herisson。TherueduPalaisiscontinuedinastraightlinebytheshortruedeMonte—a—Regret，whichleadstotheplacedesArenes，wheretheexecutionstakeplace，andwhichprobablyowesitsnametothatcircumstances。Thereisthereforebutlittledistancetogo，fewhousestopass，andfewwindowstolookfrom。Nopersoningoodsocietywouldbewillingtomingleinthecrowdwhichwouldfillthestreets。

Buttheexpectedexecutionwas，tothegreatastonishmentofthewholetown，putofffromdaytodayforthefollowingreason:——

TherepentanceandresignationofgreatcriminalsontheirwaytodeathisoneofthetriumphswhichtheChurchreservesforitself，——atriumphwhichseldommissesitseffectonthepopularmind。Repentanceissostrongaproofofthepowerofreligiousideas——takenapartfromallChristianinterest，thoughthat，ofcourse，isthechiefobjectoftheChurch——thattheclergyarealwaysdistressedbyafailureonsuchoccasions。InJuly，1829，suchafailurewasaggravatedbythespiritofpartywhichenvenomedeverydetailinthelifeofthebodypolitic。

Theliberalpartyrejoicedintheexpectationthatthepriest—party（aterminventedbyMontlosier，aroyalistwhowentovertotheconstitutionals，andwasdraggedbythemfarbeyondhiswishes），——thatthepriestswouldfailonsopublicanoccasionbeforetheeyesofthepeople。Parties/enmasse/commitinfamousactionswhichwouldcoverasinglemanwithshameandopprobrium;thereforewhenonemanalonestandsinhisguiltbeforetheeyesofthemasses，hebecomesaRobespierre，aJeffries，aLaubardemont，aspeciesofexpiatoryaltaronwhichallsecretguiltshangtheir/ex—votos/。

Theauthorities，sympathizingwiththeChurch，delayedtheexecution，partlyinthehopeofgainingsomeconclusiveinformationforthemselves，andpartlytoallowreligionanopportunitytoprevail。

Nevertheless，theirpowerwasnotunlimited，andthesentencemustsoonerorlaterbecarriedout。Thesameliberalswho，outofmereopposition，haddeclaredTascheroninnocent，andwhohaddonetheirbesttobreakdowntheverdict，nowclamoredbecausethesentencewasnotexecuted。Whentheoppositionisconsistentitinvariablyfallsintosuchunreasonableness，becauseitsobjectisnottohaverightonitsownside，buttoharasstheauthoritiesandputtheminthewrong。

Accordingly，aboutthebeginningofAugust，thegovernmentofficialsfelttheirhandforcedbythatclamor，sooftenstupid，called"publicopinion。"Thedayfortheexecutionwasnamed。InthisextremitytheAbbeDutheiltookuponhimselftoproposetothebishopalastresource，theadoptionofwhichcausedtheintroductionintothisjudicialdramaofaremarkablepersonage，whoservesasabondbetweenallthefiguresbroughtuponthesceneofit，andwho，bywaysfamiliartoProvidence，wasdestinedtoleadMadameGraslinalongapathwherehervirtuesweretoshinewithgreaterbrilliancyasanoblebenefactressandanangelicChristianwoman。

TheepiscopalpalaceatLimogesstandsonahillwhichslopestothebanksoftheVienne;anditsgardens，supportedbystrongwallstoppedwithabalustrade，descendtotheriverbyterraceafterterrace，accordingtothenaturallayoftheland。TheriseofthishillissuchthatthesuburbofSaint—Etienneontheoppositebankseemstolieatthefootofthelowerterrace。Fromthere，accordingtothedirectioninwhichapersonwalks，theViennecanbeseeneitherinalongstretchordirectlyacrossit，inthemidstofafertilepanorama。Onthewest，aftertheriverleavestheembankmentoftheepiscopalgardens，itturnstowardthetowninagracefulcurvewhichwindsaroundthesuburbofSaint—Martial。AtashortdistancebeyondthatsuburbisaprettycountryhousecalledLeCluseau，thewallsofwhichcanbeseenfromthelowerterraceofthebishop’spalace，appearing，byaneffectofdistance，toblendwiththesteeplesofthesuburb。OppositetoLeCluseauistheslopingisland，coveredwithpoplarandothertrees，whichVeroniqueinhergirlishyouthhadnamedtheIledeFrance。Totheeastthedistanceisclosedbyanampitheatreofhills。

Themagiccharmofthesiteandtherichsimplicityofthebuildingmakethisepiscopalpalaceoneofthemostinterestingobjectsinatownwheretheotheredificesdonotshine，eitherthroughchoiceofmaterialorarchitecture。

Longfamiliarizedwiththeaspectswhichcommendthesegardenstoallloversofthepicturesque，theAbbeDutheil，whohadinducedtheAbbedeGrancourtoaccompanyhim，descendedfromterracetoterrace，payingnoattentiontotheruddycolors，theorangetones，theviolettints，whichthesettingsunwascastingontheoldwallsandbalustradesofthegardens，ontheriverbeneaththem，and，inthedistance，onthehousesofthetown。Hewasinsearchofthebishop，whowassittingonthelowerterraceunderagrape—vinearbor，whereheoftencametotakehisdessertandenjoythecharmofatranquilevening。Thepoplarsontheislandseemedatthismomenttodividethewaterswiththelengtheningshadowoftheiryellowingheads，towhichthesunwaslendingtheappearanceofagoldenfoliage。Thesettingrays，diverselyreflectedonmassesofdifferentgreens，producedamagnificentharmonyofmelancholytones。AtthefartherendofthevalleyasheetofsparklingwaterruffledbythebreezebroughtoutthebrownstretchofroofsinthesuburbofSaint—Etienne。ThesteeplesandroofsofSaint—Martial，bathedinlight，showedthroughthetraceryofthegrape—vinearbor。Thesoftmurmuroftheprovincialtown，halfhiddenbythebendoftheriver，thesweetnessofthebalmyair，allcontributedtoplungetheprelateintotheconditionofquietudeprescribedbymedicalwritersondigestion;seeminglyhiseyeswererestingmechanicallyontherightbankoftheriver，justwherethelongshadowsoftheislandpoplarstoucheditonthesidetowardSaint—Etienne，nearthefieldwherethetwofoldmurderofoldPingretandhisservanthadbeencommitted。Butwhenhismomentaryfelicitywasinterruptedbythearrivalofthetwograndvicars，andthedifficultiestheybroughttohimtosolve，itwasseenhiseyeswerefilledwithimpenetrablethoughts。Thetwopriestsattributedthisabstractiontothefactofbeingbored，whereas，onthecontrary，theprelatewasabsorbedinseeinginthesandsoftheViennethesolutionoftheenigmathensoanxiouslysoughtforbytheofficersofjustice，thedesVanneaulx，andthecommunityatlarge。

"Monsieur，"saidtheAbbedeGrancour，approachingthebishop，"itisalluseless;weshallcertainlyhavethedistressofseeingthatunhappyTascherondieanunbeliever。Hevociferatesthemosthorribleimprecationsagainstreligion;heinsultsthatpoorAbbePascal;hespitsuponthecrucifix;andmeanstodiedenyingall，evenhell。"

"Hewillshockthepopulaceonthescaffold，"saidtheAbbeDutheil。

"Thegreatscandalandhorrorhisconductwillexcitemayhideourdefeatandpowerlessness。Infact，asIhavejustbeensayingtoMonsieurdeGrancour，thisveryspectaclemaydriveothersinnersintothearmsoftheChurch。"

Troubledbythesewords，thebishoplaiddownuponarusticwoodentablethebunchofgrapesatwhichhewaspicking，andwipedhisfingersashemadeasigntothetwograndvicarstobeseated。

"TheAbbePascaldidnottakeawisecourse，"hesaid。

"Heisactuallyillinhisbedfromtheeffectsofhislastscenewiththeman，"saidtheAbbedeGrancour。"Ifitwerenotforthatwemightgethimtoexplainmoreclearlythedifficultiesthathavedefeatedallthevariouseffortsmonseigneurorderedhimtomake。"

"Thecondemnedmansingsobscenesongsatthehighestpitchofhisvoiceassoonasheseesanyoneofus，soastodrownouteverywordwetrytosaytohim，"saidayoungpriestwhowassittingbesidethebishop。

Thisyoungman，whowasgiftedwithacharmingpersonality，hadhisrightarmrestingonthetable，whilehiswhitehanddroppednegligentlyonthebunchesofgrapes，seekingtheripest，withtheeaseandassuranceofanhabitualguestorfavorite。Hewasbothtotheprelate，beingtheyoungerbrotherofBaronEugenedeRastignac，towhomtiesoffamilyandalsoofaffectionhadlongboundtheBishopofLimoges。AwareofthewantoffortunewhichdevotedthisyoungmantotheChurch，thebishoptookhimashisprivatesecretarytogivehimtimetowaitforeventualpreferment。TheAbbeGabrielboreanamewhichwouldleadhimsoonerorlatertothehighestdignitiesoftheChurch。

"Didyougotoseehim，myson？"askedthebishop。

"Yes，Monseigneur。AssoonasIenteredhiscellthewretchedmanhurledthemostdisgustingepithetsatyouandatme。Hebehavedinsuchamannerthatitwasimpossibleforanypriesttoremaininhispresence。MightIgiveMonseigneurawordofadvice？"

"LetuslistentothewordsofwisdomwhichGodAlmightysometimesputsintothemouthsofchildren，"saidthebishop，smiling。

"Well，youknowhemadeBalaam’sassspeakout，"saidtheyoungabbequickly。

"Butaccordingtosomecommentatorsshedidnotknowwhatshewassaying，"repliedthebishop，laughing。

Thetwograndvicarssmiled。Inthefirstplace，thejokecamefromMonseigneur;next，itboregentlyontheyoungabbe，ofwhomthedignitariesandotherambitiouspriestsgroupedaroundthebishopweresomewhatjealous。

"Myadvicewouldbe，"resumedtheyoungman，"toaskMonsieurdeGrandvilletoreprievethemanforthepresent。WhenTascheronknowsthatheowesanextensionofhislifetoourintercession，hemaypretendtolistentous，andifhelistens——"

"Hewillpersistinhispresentconduct，findingthatithaswonhimthatadvantage，"saidthebishop，interruptinghisfavorite。

"Messieurs，"hesaid，afteramoment’ssilence，"doesthewholetownknowofthesedetails？"

"Thereisnotahouseholdinwhichtheyarenottalkedover，"saidtheAbbedeGrancour。"ThestateinwhichourgoodAbbePascalwasputbyhislasteffortsisthepresenttopicofconversationthroughoutthetown。"

"WhenisTascherontobeexecuted？"askedthebishop。

"To—morrow，whichismarket—day";repliedMonsieurdeGrancour。